COMMON WEESEL. 
425 
But we have also the testimony of Aldrovandus 
in favour of the Weesel's being sometimes com- 
pletely tamed ; so that Buffon might have found 
an exception to his general character of the ani- 
mal^ even if he had not received these modern 
attestations. Aldrovandus even expressly asserts, 
that Weesels are easily tamed, and that, when 
tame, they are remarkably playful ; adding at the 
same time, from Cardan, that their teeth should 
be rubbed with garlick, after which they will not 
presume to bite. 
Caeterum animadvertendum est inter ani- 
malia mustelas facile cicurari, & pr^ecipue quando 
ad mentem Cardani, illarum dentes allio perfri- 
cantur, quia imposterum quempiam mordicus ap- 
prehendere non audent, et cicuratse coUusionibus 
quotidie indulgent." 
Aldrovandus also quotes (from Strozza) part of 
an elegy on the death of a tame Weesel. 
Nil poterat puero te gratius esse, nec illi 
Morte tua quicquam tristius esse potest. 
Tu digitos moUi tentabas improba morsu, 
Porrecto ludens semlsupina pede, 
Et mollem e labiis noras sorbere salivam, 
Et quiddam exiguo murmure dulce queri. 
Loving and lov'd, thy master's grief ! 
-Thou could'st th' uncounted hours beguile. 
And nibbling at his finger soft 
Watch anxious for th' approving smile : 
Or, stretching forth the playful foot. 
Around in wanton gambols rove. 
Or gently sip the rosy lip. 
And in light murmurs speak thy love. 
V. I. P. II. 28 
